Self and harry e



(No Model.) Y

W. D. FULBRIGHT.

WIRE STRETGHBR.

Patented July 19, 1892.

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WITNESSES: 5- (X. bunyaxnrwn A TTUHNEYS NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IVILLIAM DAVID FULBRIGHT, OF NICHOLS, MISSOURI, ASSIGN OR TO HIM- SELF AND HARRY E. PATTON, OF SAME PLACE.

WIRE-STRETCH ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent 0. 47 9,265, dated July 19, 1892. Application filed October 29, 1891- $erial No. 410,187. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM DAVID FUL- BRIGHT, of Nichols, in the county of Greene and State of Missouri, have invented a new and Improved Wire-Stretcher, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved wire-stretcher which is simple and durable in construction, very effective in operation, and more especially designed for use in building wire fences.

The invention consists of certain parts and details and combinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter, and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a front view of the improvement as applied. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the improvement, and Fig. 4 is a plan view of the same.

The improved wire-stretcher is provided with a plate A, adapted to be secured to a fence-post B by suitable means. On the front of the plate A is arranged a U-shaped bearing C, carrying a pivot-pin D, on which are mounted to swing horizontally the arms E and E, located one above the other and each provided with a gripping-jaw F, fixed to the under side of the pivoted arm E and to the top of the other arm E, as is plainly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. The front end of each gripping-jaw F is preferably serrated, so as to take a firm hold on the wire, and the latter is pressed or gripped, as hereinafter more fully described.

On the front end of each pivoted arm E or E is fulcrumed a lever G, arranged in line with the respective gripping-jaw F and having its inner end rounded off, as is plainly shown in Fig. 4., this end serving to press the wire upon the serrated edge of the grippingjaw to grip and hold the wire while stretching the same. When the lever G is thrown in an angular position relative to the pivoted arm E or E, as shown in full lines in Figs. 2

and 4, then the inner end of the lever is opened relative to the jaw F, so that the wire H can be inserted between the said end and jaw, and when the lever is then moved in line with the pivoted arm the wire is gripped between the jaw and the inner end of the lever. On a further forward swinging of the lever G the wire is drawn forward and thereby stretched, so that it can be readily attached to the fence-post B, on which the plate A is temporarily attached.

In order to hold the Wire H in a stretched position while nailing it to the fence-post B, the following device is provided: On the plate A is secured an angular arm I, on which is hung a hook J, formed at its free end with a cross-bar J, adapted to engage an aperture G in the respective lever G, carrying the wire. When the lever G has been moved to stretch the wire, as above described, then the lever is in the left-hand position, as shown in Fig. 2, the said lever then being engaged by the cross-bar J, thus locking the lever and the respective arm E or E in position to enable the operator to nail the wire in place on the post B. On the angular arm I is also secured or attached one end of the chain K, passed around the fence-post B and hooked by one of its links to a pin L on the plate A to hold the latter in position during the time So the wire isstretched, so as to prevent displacement of the plate A on the post B.

In order to temporarily attach the plate A on the fence-post B, I prefer to provide the said plate at its upper end with an inwardlyextending point N, adapted to be driven into the post. Then the wire H has been stretched by one of the levers and its respective arm and the tension is not sufficient, then the other lever and its arm are used similarly 0 to the first lever and its arm, so as to give additional tension to the wire. This operation can be repeated by using the two levers alternately for stretching until the desired tension is given to the wire.

and arm last used are then looked in position by the arm J in the manner above described, to enable the operator to nail the stretched wire to the fence-post B.

Having thus described my invention, I I00 Thelever claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- 1. In a wire-stretcher, two pivotally -supported independent arms, having each a complementary lever, which serves, in connection with its arm, to grip the wire and movable alternately by said levers for exerting tension on the wire, and a locking device for the levers, the one arm with its lever serving when locked to maintain the wire under tension until gripped by the other arm and lever, substantially as described.

2. In a wire-stretcher, the combination, with a plate adapted to be temporarily attached to a fencepost, of two arms pivoted on the said plate one above the other, gripping-jaws attached to the opposite faces of the said pivoted arms, and levers pivoted on the said arms WILLIAM DAVID FULBRIGI-IT.

Witnesses:

JAMES B. EVANS, A. M. BYBEE. 

